After a difficult NBA season, Croatian star Gordan Giricek is relishing the prosect of representing his country at Eurobasket 2005 in Serbia & Montenegro.

Giricek recorded his highest number of games in his NBA career this season with the Utah Jazz, clocking 81 of 82 contests, including 44 as a starter. However, Utah were unable to make the play-offs, finishing with a dissapointing 25-56 record, bottom in the Northwest Division.

With a long summer on his hands, Eurobasket could be the perfect tonic to revive Giricek and the Croatian national team in September. Croatia finished in 11th place at Eurobasket 2003, and will be looking for a fully fit Giricek to lead them into medal contention in Serbia & Montenegro.

Crobasket.com caught up with Giricek in Croatia to get his thoughts on the past few months and his country's Eurobasket prospects.

Some time has passed after your season with the Utah Jazz has ended. How do you feel it went?

Giricek: Offensively, it was worse, and there are number of reasons for that, but I can’t say I’m satisfied. There were many circumstances, the team acquired new players with big contracts, and they cared more about them than they did about me. All of that after I had a season in which I proved I was one of the European players who can carry a team. On offense, there are many things that need to come together, you have to have your freedom, the team needs to believe in you. But defensively I am very pleased, I improved drastically.

What needs to change?

Giricek: I am unhappy with how the team was put together because this did not help the team. If we were winning, that’s fine, but we were losing a lot. If we want to have a different season, we need to play more like a team. Some players just don’t pass the ball, and if we want to win that problem needs to be resolved.
 
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the national team?

Giricek: Out biggest strength is that no one is counting on us, and we are ready to upset everybody. Plus, we have a team, meaning we are ready to play a team game, and play tough team defense. We have got the players to do so, from the centers to the guards. We are young, and that’s a minus, but not necessarily. The experience is needed, but youth and cockiness can also be a virtue.

What do you expect from the European Championships? What result would satisfy you?

Giricek: I expect the gold. It’s a competitive way of thinking. If we are there to compete, then I’m thinking of winning the title, it is the only possible way to reason. If you aim for more than what seems realistic on paper, then what you achieve at the end might really please you. I want Croatia to become the European Champion, and that’s what would satisfy me.

Would you be happy with the fifth place, the one that would qualify Croatia to the World Championship?

Giricek: Of course I would not be unhappy with it, but as I said, I'm aiming for the title. We were absent from the major competitions for way too long to underestimate the importance of winning fifth place. That would mean a lot for Croatian basketball.

This article is published courtesy of www.CroBasket.com